The Premier League has had consecutive weeks of double fixtures, causing many top teams to drop points, with the top four all drawing and the big six all slipping up.

The Premier League is the most profitable and challenging league, particularly during the Christmas and January period, where back-to-back weekly matches overwhelm even well-stocked teams. In the 21st round, the top four clubs all drew and dropped points. In this round, all big six teams lost points—four drew and two lost—resulting in only a five-point gap between 5th and 13th place, meaning even teams outside the top ten still have a chance to fight for a Champions League spot.

In the 21st round, leaders Arsenal played a goalless draw with Liverpool, Manchester City drew 1-1 with Brighton marking their third consecutive draw, and Aston Villa also settled for a 0-0 stalemate against Crystal Palace. The top four all drew, dropping two points each, which means the points gap and rankings among them remained unchanged. Among the other big six teams, newly managed Manchester United drew 2-2 with Burnley, marking their third straight draw, all against relegation-threatened sides; with this form, even a single competition challenge for fifth place is tough. Chelsea, also under new management, lost 1-2 to Fulham and have now gone five games without a win, with Cucurella receiving a red card. Tottenham lost 2-3 to Bournemouth, achieving only one win in six games and currently sitting in the lower half (14th), making them the worst of the big six. Tottenham’s ongoing struggles mean they can hardly be considered a top Premier League club anymore.

This weekend continues with the 22nd round of the Premier League, featuring another set of double fixtures. The key matches include the Manchester derby, Chelsea vs Brentford where new coach Rosenier will find it tough to secure a winning start, and Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal, where the Gunners face a tough away test. The title race and battle for the top five remain so tight that gaps can quickly close or reverse, making it impossible to call a “sure win” before the final moments. This unpredictability is exactly what fans love about the Premier League.